The Maple Witches (Worst Witch Spin-Off)

Chapter Eleven

Dread writhed in the depths of Sephy's stomach as she stared intently at the office door. Fearful thoughts ricocheted throughout her mind; she was more than aware of the gravity of the situation and there was no way to escape it.

They would most likely expect something in the way of an explanation from her, but how could she possibly oblige when she was still trying to piece together exactly what had happened?

"Wait here," Miss Hardbroom directed, her tone so nonchalant that it was threatening.

HB rapped sharply on the door, and Miss Cackle's muffled voice invited her to enter. The potions teacher swiftly disappeared into thin air. Soon after, Sephy heard the ominous murmurs of two voices coming from inside the office.

She remained glued to the spot, whilst every fibre of her being longed to run as far away as possible. She trembled as her instincts battled between fight or flight. Ironically, flight was the reason she was here in the first place.

How had she done it - any of it? And why had she laughed like that? She was starting to feel like she was going insane.

The office door was suddenly wrenched open with a ear-piercing screech. Miss Hardbroom held it in place with an outstretched arm, and Sephy stepped into Miss Cackle's office.

Whatever had happened, she had caused it and it was her fault. She would have to accept the consequences.

"Take a seat, Persephone," Miss Cackle instructed. She was calm, but none of her usual friendliness lay behind her horn-rimmed spectacles.

Sephy did as she was told. The cold, creaking wooden chair was more comfortable than she felt.

"What appalling behaviour," Miss Cackle began. "Ignoring instructions that are there to keep you safe, followed by blatant cheek, and then disrupting the lesson by being wantonly destructive!"

"Let us not forget that you had the nerve to laugh in my face," HB added, her voice colder than an old cauldron in a snowstorm.

Sephy resisted the urge to inform her form tutor that she clearly hadn't been laughing at anyone in particular; it was neither the time nor place to be pedantic. She just stared at a coaster on the headmistress' desk.

"As for your broomstick, I will ask Miss Drill to take a look at it," Miss Cackle said with a sigh. "Although if she cannot do anything to restore it to its former state, then your family will be responsible for covering the cost of repairing or replacing it."

Sephy gulped. The last thing she wanted was for her father to catch wind of this, let alone fork out another small fortune to replace a broomstick that should have lasted her five years.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Miss Hardbroom barked.

"Not really," Sephy murmured after a pause. "I'm sorry though. I... I don't know what happened."

"I know that you were anxious about flying lessons," Miss Cackle said, sounding somewhat sympathetic. Her deputy, who had clearly not been privy to this information, looked taken aback for a second. "But I assure you, Persephone, supervised flying lessons at Cackle's are perfectly safe - if you are sensible and follow instructions."

Sephy's gaze returned to the coaster. It had a black cat on it which peered through circular tea-stains with emerald eyes. Miss Cackle cleared her throat slightly, and Sephy met the headmistress' stare in response.

"Miss Hardbroom has also informed me that you have been in and out of trouble recently, although it is unclear whether that is due to a lack of respect for authority or general... clumsiness."